Chedwyn Michael Evans

Ched Evans came through the Manchester City academy before making his name at Sheffield United, where a £3 million move in 2009 preceded a PFA League One Team of the Year selection and 35 goals in the 2011–12 season. That spell was cut short in April 2012, when a rape conviction sent him to prison until October 2014. His conviction was quashed in 2016, and he returned to first-team football with Chesterfield before going back to Sheffield United a year later.

His second act was built at Fleetwood Town. A loan move in July 2018 produced 17 goals in 39 appearances, leading to a permanent transfer in August 2019, after which he added a further 14 goals in 45 games for the club. He left Fleetwood in December 2020 and moved on to Preston North End, first on loan and then permanently, staying there until 2025.

At international level, Evans earned 13 caps for Wales and scored on his senior debut against Iceland in May 2008. He had already shown his scoring instincts at youth level, with a hat-trick for the Wales under-21 side against France in 2007.